1 Power Tip for Optimizing Your Time – by Liz Lawrence, MA, LPC-S

Here’s one quick tip for optimizing your time: re-experience a concert atmosphere in your head! Truly, when your brain is in what is called a “concert state,” you are at your best. A concert state is when you are the most true you: you think clearly, your body is relaxed, you clearly communicate, and you care for others well.

As Dr. Daniel Amen from the Amen Brain Clinics says, “Optimizing your brain’s function is essential to being the best you can be, whether at work, in leisure, or in your relationships.” Your brain determines the kind of person you are because the brain is involved in everything you do. Every function goes through your brain, so if you want to do your best work and live your best life you would do well to care well for your brain. That means eating properly for your body now, getting plenty of sleep, maintaining healthy relationships, consuming purified water consistently, taking care of any medical or mental health issues, and protecting your head from injury.

Optimizing brain function equals optimized time. So let’s return to establishing that “concert state.” Having a relaxed body with a clear and inspired mind is like the experience at a symphony. Achieving this state, according to Dr. Amen, requires two simultaneous skills: deep relaxation and intentional focus.

Let’s re-create the concert state by starting with classical music. There are multiple research studies on the application of Baroque or Symphonic music on the brain. While this is true, find the music type that works for you to feel relaxed and focused, then play that in the background during your workday.

Next move on to practicing some deep relaxation, and consider applying belly breathing.

Breathe with your belly. Lay on the floor and put a book or a pillow on your belly. When you breathe in, make the book rise as you fill your lungs with air. Then breathe out and make the book/pillow fall as you push out all the air from your lungs. Do this slowly and deeply, taking fewer than seven breaths a minute. It is nearly impossible to be anything but focused when you breathe this way. As I write, my five-month old puppy is laying on the floor on his back with his belly going up and down. He’s relaxed!

Lastly, let’s boost the concert state by enhancing our focus, and consider using the One Page Miracle.

Implement the “One Page Miracle” from the Amen Clinics. On one piece of paper write down the following headings:

relationships,

work/school,

money,

physical health,

emotional health, and

spiritual health.

Next to each heading write down what you want in each area so the desire becomes a realistic, achievable, and specific goal. For example, under relationships, “I want to have a kind, loving, connected relationship with my children so I will plan to be home for meals times three nights a week.” When you finish writing all of your goals, make multiple copies of it and prominently display it where you can see it several times each day. Frequently ask yourself, “Is my behavior getting me what I want?” This exercise helps to keep you focused on the things that are most important in your life.

By implementing both relaxation tools and enhancing focus tools you can work to develop a “concert state” in your brain. Then you have greater mental clarity, internal passion, confidence, higher productivity and increased effectiveness.

Sounds beautiful! Try these application steps:

Implement the concert state for one week and chart your time usage.

Experiment with different styles of music at different times of day to increase your experience.

Re-train yourself to add a daily pause of applying the deep breathing then finish with some stretching as you look at your goals.

Liz Lawrence works as a multi-faceted counselor, coach, creative consultant, and speaker whose work includes environmental design and Christian psychology in both corporate and ministry arenas at Liz Lawrence in Austin, Texas. She provides a counseling structure that includes spiritual practices, creative uses of media, physical health, intellectual growth, brain-healthy practices, and relational strength in all seasons of life.